Tri-Distrance Final the big race at Lifford this weekend

‘The Tracker’

Published:12:45Thursday 08 December 2016

The final of the track bookmakers Tri-Distance event will be the main race on a strong 12 race card at Lifford Greyhound Stadium tomorrow night

There were two semi-finals last week, the first won by ‘Locnamon Maya’. The July ‘14 bitch, owned by Hugh Mullan and trained by his brother Willie, took the lead approaching the first bend and from there it was plain sailing as she stayed on well to win by five lengths from ‘Smurfing Senor’ in a time of 30.25 for the 550 yards. ‘Glasheen Honey’ also qualified in third to go through to tomorrow nights final.

There was a shock result in the second semi-final where ‘Justin Mac’, owned by James Logue and trained by Willie Mullan, was heavily supported in the betting ring at 5/4 to land a ‘semi-final double’ for its trainer. Indeed it looked good for punters going along the back straight when ‘Justin Mac’ took the lead but the September ‘14 dog seemed to lose his action and ‘Smurfing Assasin’, owned by Eunan McBride, swept by and stayed on well to win in a time of 30.98. ‘Justin Mac’ recovered and stayed on for second while ‘Marinas Lee’ finished third to also qualify for tomorrow night’s final.

Looking at tomorrow nights final, Derry based owner Willie Mullan has two in the line up with Convoy based trainer Eunan McBride also getting two through to the final.

On semi-final form, ‘Locnamon Maya’ is entitled to start a short priced favourite. She has over five lengths advantage on the clock and the step up to 575 yards will also be a plus tomorrow night but the big negative for me regarding ‘Locnamon Maya’ is that she has a awful trap draw in trap six. For a confirmed railer, if she does get a clear run, she will win but she will be a very short price and I’m willing to take her on with her kennel comrade ‘Justin Mac’. I know many people will say that ‘Justin Mac’ should have won last week but I’m willing to forgive that run as I believe it was down to inexperience that he checked up. He has only five races on his card and I think from trap two he is the value bet to win the final for the Mullan brothers.

The semi finals of the ‘Comerford Cakes 525’ from Shelbourne Park will be the main races on the track’s televisions. The second semi final looks the race of the night. It’s not often that it happens but such is the quality of the field that a case can be made for any of the six runners. However I am going to take a chance on ‘Good News’ from trap five. The November ‘14 dog was awesome in last week’s heats when he was a trap to line winner in a time of 28.14 for the 525 yards. With normal luck, he should win tomorrow night for owner Sandra Guilfoyle.